Karachi Festival Becomes Hub for Women-Led Digital Entrepreneurship
A vibrant one-day family festival held at Habitt City in Karachi delivered a powerful message of women's empowerment, placing women-led stalls and homegrown online businesses at the forefront of the event. The festival successfully brought together families, young entrepreneurs, and creative women, many of whom are leveraging digital platforms to transform their skills into sustainable sources of income.
Showcasing Talent and Collaboration
The event featured an impressive array of 29 stalls offering a diverse range of products including food items, clothing, perfumes, handmade jewellery, and various craft-based goods. A notable aspect of the festival was the collaborative family approach to entrepreneurship evident throughout the venue. At several stalls, sisters were seen managing businesses together, while at others, married couples shared responsibilities, demonstrating how family support can fuel entrepreneurial success.
Young Entrepreneurs Share Their Journeys
Seventeen-year-old A-level student Isra Faisal, who runs a handmade jewellery business, revealed that her entrepreneurial journey began as a childhood hobby. "I've been interested in art and craft since childhood and used to make jewellery for myself. Later, I decided to turn this passion into a business," she explained to The Express Tribune.
Emphasizing the importance of digital platforms, Isra added: "As a woman, I believe online business is very important in today's time. It gives you a chance to understand yourself and highlight your abilities. My aim is not just to earn, but to recognise my own talent." She started her venture using pocket money and has since earned two to three times more profit than her initial investment.
Isra also highlighted the mental health benefits of staying creatively engaged: "It's very important to keep your mind busy so that your health remains good. Every woman should do work that gives her mental peace."
Sister Duo and Family Support Systems
Fiza Hussain, who creates resin art and acrylic art handbags with her sister, shared that they launched their business just two to three months ago with empowerment as their primary motivation. "My sister and I run this online business together. We introduced handmade beaded art bags, and along with that, we are also making resin-art-based jewellery," she said.
Fiza emphasized the dedication required for handmade work: "No work is easy. It takes two to three days to make a single bag, and we also have to survey different markets."
Maheen, who runs a handmade fizzy flower business, credited her family - particularly her mother-in-law - for providing crucial support. "For my online business, the biggest support came from my mother-in-law, and then from the entire family," she revealed. She learned her craft through social media during free time at home and turned it into a business in October last year, quickly receiving orders and positive feedback that boosted her confidence.
Organizer's Vision and Supportive Dynamics
Festival organizer Afzal Javed stated that the event aimed to provide a platform for skilled women to showcase their talents. "A total of 29 stalls were set up where talented women presented their art for exhibition," he confirmed. A distinctive feature of the festival was that women independently managed each stall while male family members stood alongside them in supportive roles.
Owais Suriya, present at an artificial jewellery and cosmetics stall, shared that he started his online business after the Covid-19 lockdown with his wife's full support. "Just like a vehicle has two wheels," he described their partnership. He found online selling so beneficial that he never felt the need to rent a physical shop.
Offering advice to aspiring entrepreneurs, Owais emphasized: "Don't overthink - just start. Taking the first step is important; the paths create themselves."
The Karachi family festival successfully demonstrated how digital entrepreneurship, combined with family support and creative talent, can create meaningful economic opportunities for women while promoting mental well-being and self-discovery.
